boomerang

Definition of boomerangnext
as in to backfire
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of boomerang Today, Netanyahu’s boast has boomeranged, transformed from an electoral asset into an advertisement of his diminished influence. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 Bare nails seem to boomerang around in the culture every other year as a sort of palette cleanser. Sable Yong, Allure, 11 June 2026 The second season finale saw Deborah fire Ava to free her up to be her own person and chase her career, only for the two to boomerang back together. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026 Mary, our thirtysomething narrator, has recently boomeranged back to her hometown (York) after experiencing a break with reality that may or may not be psychotic. Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Time-and-date karma was always going to boomerang. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 The ball skidded though the green, banged off the Truist fencing and boomeranged right back into the same bunker. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026 Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices. Ella Lee, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2026 The idea of Miami boomeranging from 7-10 to make the playoffs next year and maybe even end that playoff-victory drought is not be crazy. Greg Cote january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang
Verb
  • Arriving at their new studio, Nacksving in Gothenburg, with almost no material prepared, Åkerfeldt committed to writing his songs the night before each recording session, a process which—big surprise—backfired immediately.
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • With the decision to keep Cole in backfiring and the Bombers’ bats silent against Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers’ bullpen, the Yankees began their second half with a 2-1 loss to the back-to-back champions.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • Chuanjun warned that heavy rain and extreme weather conditions could put additional areas alongside the mountain near the initial landslide at risk of collapsing.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • By the time his candidacy collapsed, the time required to mount an effective alternative had largely disappeared.
    Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • An honest caveat belongs here because the robots may yet flop.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • The Daily Show spent almost four minutes waxing rhapsodic over that time Lenny Kravitz’s pants split open and his hog flopped out.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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